Plastics: Just a Load of Rubbish?

A decade to save the planet.

That's the current call to arms. Targets are set, governments vow to do their bit, and on a societal level, we are encouraged to do ours by choosing to forego all things plastic. The question is whether this is the right decision or are we inadvertently at risk of doing more harm than good? Are there other factors in play needing equal consideration?

Plastics: Just a Load of Rubbish? follows the story of plastic, and to an extent rubber (known collectively as polymers), with an eye to the overarching theme of the environment. It asks challenging questions but also sets out to inform. It begins by building a picture: just what exactly is a plastic, and how did it gain such a dominant role in our lives? Are recent denouncements fully justified?

By better understanding plastics, a clearer opinion can be formed of their usefulness and their potential to alleviate serious environmental concerns.